The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

The Mafia may not be the first place you’d turn to for tips on getting ahead in business, but former wiseguy-turned-author Louis Ferrante has news for you: Mobsters—at least the ones who haven’t been riddled with bullets or thrown in prison—have a proven track record of success worthy of emulation.

It’s been almost two decades since Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. And whether you celebrate the man or criticize him, few—with the notable exception of the late, great Alan Watts—have done more to help popularize Eastern thought in the Western world. Concepts like the “unified field of consciousness” and “pure potentiality” linking ancient traditions to modern quantum mechanics are no longer the stuff of esoteric mystics or science-fiction geeks, in large part to Chopra’s work.

Dr. Howard E. Wasdin is a chiropractor from Georgia who spends most of his days quietly adjusting bad backs and relieving pinched nerves. He also happens to be one of the toughest and most accomplished special operations commandos this nation has ever produced. His duties have included repelling off helicopters as part of the U.S. led effort to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991, to having been shot multiple times attempting to end warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s oppressive ...

He’s only 32, but after contending with everything from ghastly gangbangers to evil extraterrestrials, actor, recording artist and South Central, L.A.-product Tyrese Gibson figures he’s learned a lot about life, love and happiness. And now he’s itching to share that hard-won knowledge with the world. Gibson covers a lot of territory in How to Get Out of Your Own Way, an earnest self-help book aimed at improving lives and fostering positive relationships. But for a man who’s gone ...

Wired editorand former “black hat” hacker extraordinaire Kevin Poulsen left the dark side of the keyboard long ago in favor of his career as a crackerjack investigative reporter. Both skill sets, however, serve him exceedingly well in his debut book Kingpin. Poulsen delves deep into the mad world of another computer wunderkind, Max “Vision” Butler, who’s bent on becoming the cyber underworld’s boss of all bosses. Recently the author spoke with Kirkus about how vulnerable we truly are on ...

LATEST RECIPIENT OFTHE KIRKUS STAR

General readers looking for a challenge will love this book and will dive into Blake's work. Many will find him just too far off the beam, but they, too, will enjoy the many color illustrations included in the text.

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